Domestic assault reveals marijuana grow house

A couple was arrested after deputies responded to an assault complaint and found the two running a marijuana grow house.

Richard Paul Peeler, 48, and Laura Lee Baldwin, 51, both of Port Charlotte, were arrested and charged with Cultivation of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana Over 20-Grams, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Charlotte County sheriff's deputies responded to a domestic complaint Monday made by Baldwin, who said her boyfriend, Peeler, was threatening to kill her with a knife.

Deputies received the call at 12:05 a.m. from Baldwin, nearly two hours after the incident began Sunday night around 10:30 p.m.

According to reports, Baldwin said there was an argument and Peeler pushed her down on a couch, cut her lip and held a large hunting style knife against her throat, saying he was going to kill her.

Baldwin said she was able to get the knife from Peeler and run to a neighbor's house.

When deputies arrived, they met Baldwin outside. Peeler allegedly refused to answer the door, and deputies say Baldwin gave them a key and permission to enter.

Peeler was found in a bedroom and arrested. Deputies said he smelled of alcohol.

When the marijuana plants were discovered in a spare bedroom, everyone left the home. Narcotics Unit detectives were called and they got a search warrant.

Detectives say they found 13 marijuana plants growing in five-gallon buckets, along with a complete grow house system that included grow lights, de-humidifier, a commercial air-conditioning unit and about 30-feet of duct work.

The total weight of marijuana came to 288.1 grams.

After searching the couple's bedroom, detectives found two scales with marijuana residue, a plastic baggie with 1.3 grams of marijuana seeds, and a pill container that contained 0.3 grams of marijuana seeds and rolling papers.

Baldwin told detectives she has lived in the home for about five months. She said she did not know about the marijuana plants grown in her home and only learned about them today.

But her phone told a different story - detective's located it and found previous photos of the marijuana grow operation.

Peeler and Baldwin were transported to the Charlotte County Jail.

Peeler was additionally charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (knife) and Aggravated Battery Using a Deadly Weapon. Both remain in jail; Peeler on $50,000 bond, and Baldwin on $8500 bond.